Laurie Towner is the people’s champ of surfing. Everyone, both within the surfing industry and without, know that he’s one of the best in the world when it comes to surfing freakishly big waves. But, as countless others can attest, that doesn’t always transfer over that well to a long-lasting career. After a few years in the spotlight with Billabong cutting his checks. Then, in 2014, when the industry took a nose-dive, he found himself out of job. But just because he wasn’t getting paid exclusively for surfing, of course, didn’t mean that he was still the same old Laurie Towner, quietly charging waves of almost unimaginable size with the casual grace of a hunting cat. And he’s still got it, clearly, as proven by this trip to Indonesia to a wave you know on sight.
“The swell was almost too big for the reef, turning a perfect right into a thick double up monster,” reads the video’s description. “On the big day most waves where going unridden with only a few putting themselves under the lip and getting rewarded with some amazing tubes. After getting some great waves Laurie Towner got flogged at the bottom of a huge double up separating some ribs. He was done, but still stoked.”
